Tea party activist nixes Kasich primary challenge

Published: January 5, 2014 12:24 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio tea party leader who announced a primary challenge to Gov. John Kasich backed out of the race Saturday, less than a week after saying he was in.

In an emailed statement, Ted Stevenot said he made the decision not to run based on discussions with family, friends, and advisers.

Despite "a tremendous outpouring of support and encouragement" Stevenot said he decided to get out of the race.

"I do this reluctantly, because I know that part of what has gone wrong with our political process is that the two major parties have made it exceedingly difficult for a common person to run for office," he said.

Stevenot said the decision had nothing to do with reports of financial difficulties encountered by his running mate, Brenda Mack, who he said encountered financial problems while battling a rare form of cancer.

"During her illness, she understandably struggled to make ends meet and run her business," he wrote. "She ended up selling nearly everything she had just to survive."

Stevenot is past president of the statewide Ohio Liberty Coalition, a Clermont County tea party leader and co-founder of a suburban Cincinnati insurance company.